Fadnavis was responding to a discussion in the Assembly, initiated by Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who lauded the farmers participating in the Kisan Long March.

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Kamlesh Sutar

Mumbai

March 12, 2018

UPDATED: March 13, 2018 09:41 IST

Farmers listen to a speaker at a rally organised by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Mumbai. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

HIGHLIGHTS

Over 35,000 farmers march from Nashik to Mumbai

Protest called off after govt accepts demands

Meeting took place between govt, delegation representing farmers

Farmers in Maharashtra whose six-day protest march brough them to Mumbai Sunday evening have ended their agitation after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' government promised that pending issues would be sorted out in six months.

A meeting between a delegation representing the farmers and the government took place earlier today.

The protesters were demanding an unconditional loan waiver, and the transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years.

"The main demand was that was of forest land transfer to tribals who cultivate it," Fadnavis said. "Most of the protestors were tribals who have not been given forest land or (the provision of land) got delayed. In the next 6 months all the pending issues will be sorted out...irrigation projects in Surgana, Kalvan areas will be completed shortly."

As for loan waivers, Fadnavis said the farmers were considered eligible since 2008. "But some were left out in the previous government's loan waiver.....so we have decided to include them in the new loan waiver package as well."

We have accepted most of their demands and have given them a written letter: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Maharashtra Farmers' agitation pic.twitter.com/PWeXxtCq4K

Devendra Fadnavis today said his government was "sensitive and positive" towards the demands of farmers and tribals, who have marched from Nashik to Mumbai to draw the administration's attention towards their problems.

Fadnavis was responding to a discussion in the Assembly, initiated by Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who lauded the farmers participating in the Kisan Long March for their peaceful protest while demanding a complete loan waiver and compensation for hailstorm and pink bollworm pest attack on crops.

The Azad Maidan in South Mumbai turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 kms from the neighbouring Nashik district over the last six days.

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha is spearheading the protest.

A farmer covers his face with a bandana with an image of Che Guevara as he sleeps before a rally organised by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Mumbai. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

"They (the protesting farmers) reached the Azad Maidan early this morning from the K J Somaiya Ground in the eastern suburbs so that students appearing for their board exams are not hassled due to traffic jams. The Mumbaikars are also taking care of them," Vikhe Patil said in the House.

He questioned the need for a ministerial committee to discuss the demands with leaders of the protesting farmers after they reached Mumbai.

"Why couldn't the government talk to them before the march began from Nashik on March 6. Such hardships for tribals and farmers could have been avoided," Vikhe Patil said.

Farmers shout slogans against the government at a rally organised by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Mumbai. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Fadnavis said a ministerial committee had been formed to discuss the protester's demands.

Around 90 to 95 per cent of the participants are poor tribals. They are fighting for forest land rights. They are landless and cant do farming. The government is sensitive and positive towards their demands

- Devendra Fadnavis

"A ministerial committee has been formed to discuss the demands with protesters. We will take a decision to resolve their issues in a time-bound manner," he said.

Fadnavis said his government has been in touch with the march's organisers since March 6.

"But they were adamant on the march. We tried to talk to them. All help was provided, like traffic management and deployment of medical vans," he said.

The march has been organised to protest the alleged failures of the BJP government on the farm front, including non-implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and the Forest Rights Act.

The farmers demanded a change in the plan to link rivers in Nashik, Thane and Palghar districts so as to ensure that tribal lands are not submerged and water from the scheme be made available to these areas and other drought-prone districts.

They protested against the state government's land acquisition for projects such as high speed rail and super highways.